Enduro Samobor 2026 · Croatian National Championship
Croatian enduro has a problem, but there is still hope
Last weekend I raced the Croatian National Enduro Championship in Samobor, organised by BBK Šišmiš Samobor. Five timed stages, wet autumn conditions and a start beside Samobor Old Town made it a fun weekend, and I finished second in my category.
That sounds more impressive without the context. There were not enough riders in my category to fill the podium, and that says a lot about the state of Croatian enduro, and about why it still deserves some hope.
Race video
Enduro Racing in Croatia Has a Problem… | Enduro Samobor 2026
The full Enduro Samobor 2026 story on video, from wet practice and a start beside the Old Town to the podium and why Croatian enduro needs more riders.
Second in my category at the Croatian National Enduro Championship.
One of them started right next to Samobor Old Town.
The full race day recording, including the transfers between stages.
Mostly pedalling and pushing between the five stages.
Saturday practice
A wet weekend of enduro racing in Samobor
Last weekend I raced the Croatian National Enduro Championship in Samobor, organised by BBK Šišmiš Samobor. Five timed stages, wet autumn conditions and one very unusual start next to the Old Town made it a fun weekend of racing.
Saturday practice followed plenty of rain, so the conditions were slippery. Practice was the chance to learn the five stages and work out where the grip was, and where it definitely was not.
The stages offered a good foundation for the event, with a mix of terrain in the hills above Samobor and plenty of potential for further development if the race returns.
Race day
Five timed stages and a start beside a medieval castle
Sunday started around the race office at Vugrinščak, where riders registered, collected their numbers and got ready for five timed stages.
The first stage had by far the most distinctive setting of the weekend. Instead of heading straight into the hills, we walked our bikes up towards Samobor Old Town and started racing from there. It is not every day that an enduro stage starts next to a medieval castle.
From there the race continued through the remaining four stages. Conditions stayed challenging in places after Saturday’s rain, but the day went smoothly.
Race village
Pizza first, podium second
After finishing all five stages, everyone returned to the race village for some much needed pizza, followed by the podium ceremony.
There were thankfully no serious incidents all weekend. Apparently the most notable rescue operation involved recovering a drone stuck in a tree. If that is the biggest emergency at an enduro race, I would call it a successful weekend.
The result
Second at the Croatian National Championship, technically
I finished second in my category at the Croatian National Enduro Championship. That sounds considerably more impressive without the additional context.
There were not even enough competitors in my category to fill all three places on the podium. I am happy to take a medal home, but I think that empty podium position says more about Croatian enduro racing at the moment than my result does.
Croatian enduro
Croatian enduro racing has a participation problem
Enduro races in Croatia have become increasingly rare over the past few years, and participation in some of the adult categories is not where I would like to see it.
It is a difficult cycle. Organising an enduro race takes a lot of work. Trails need to be prepared, stages marked, timing organised, safety covered and volunteers coordinated. If only a small number of riders show up, it gets harder to justify doing all of that again next year. At the same time, without races on the calendar, riders have fewer reasons to try racing in the first place.
One thing stood out as encouraging. The overall field was not large, but there were quite a few kids preparing, riding and racing throughout the weekend. Considering the state of the scene, that was probably the best thing to see.
Try an enduro race
You do not need to be a hardcore racer to try enduro
If you ride mountain bikes in Croatia and have ever thought about trying an enduro race, you do not need to wait until you are exceptionally fast or technically perfect. I certainly am not.
You can simply show up, ride the stages at your own pace, experience racing against the clock and spend a day on bikes with people who enjoy the same thing. By doing that you also support the clubs and volunteers who are still willing to organise these events.
The strong presence of young riders in Samobor gives me some optimism. There clearly are kids interested in racing mountain bikes, and hopefully some of them become the next generation of Croatian enduro riders.
Next year
Hopefully Enduro Samobor comes back next year
BBK Šišmiš Samobor deserves credit for putting the event together and bringing another enduro race to the Croatian calendar. There is room for the stages and the event to develop further, and I hope this becomes something that grows over the next few years rather than a one-off.
More developed trails, more competitors and another edition next year would all be steps in the right direction. See you at the next one.
Route and effort
The Enduro Samobor GPX route and elevation profile
The race day recording covers 15.7 km and 912 m of climbing, 2h 31m moving and 4h 41m elapsed, at around 19 °C. It includes the walk up to Samobor Old Town and the transfers between stages, none of which count towards the timed result.
Enduro Samobor 2026 FAQ
Where was Enduro Samobor 2026 held?
In Samobor, Croatia, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, with Saturday practice the day before. The race office was at Vugrinščak.
Who organised Enduro Samobor 2026?
BBK Šišmiš Samobor organised the race, which counted as the Croatian National Enduro Championship.
How many stages did Enduro Samobor 2026 have?
Five timed stages. The first one started next to Samobor Old Town after riders walked their bikes up from the race area.
Can beginners race enduro in Croatia?
Yes. You can ride the stages at your own pace and race the clock without being exceptionally fast. Entering also supports the clubs and volunteers who organise these events.